Video streaming playback system and method

ABSTRACT

A video streaming playback system is provided with a video playback module, a tipping module, a reward download button/link display module, and a setup interface for selecting to offer a reward or not offer a reward for a video which a user who is a content creator has uploaded; wherein the reward download button/link display module is configured to, in response to a tip payment process being executed for the video, display an activated reward download button/link on the user interface when the user who is a content creator has selected using the setup interface to offer a reward upon payment of a tip, or has not selected using the setup interface to not offer a reward upon payment of a tip, and not display an activated reward download button/link on the user interface when the user who is a content creator has not selected using the setup interface to offer a reward upon payment of a tip, or has selected using the setup interface to not offer a reward upon payment of a tip.

FEATURES OF THE INVENTION

-   (1) A video streaming playback system characterized by comprising:     -   a video playback module configured to display a video uploaded         to a specific video hosting site on a user interface displayed         on a computer of a content consumer so as to enable streaming         playback of the video over the Internet; and     -   a tipping module configured to operate in tandem with a video         playback operation performed by the video playback module;     -   where in the tipping module comprises;     -   a module (tipping button/link display module) for, when the         start of video playback by the video playback module is         detected, displaying an active tipping button/link on the user         interface either during video playback or after video playback         is finished depending on a default setting or a user setting;         and     -   a payment processing module that, in response to a content         consumer operating the displayed active tipping button/link,         processes, according to default or content-consumer-selected         settings, payment of a tip of a specific amount to an owner of         the video being played back. -   (2) The system according to (1), wherein:     -   the tipping module further comprises:     -   a module (video download button/link display module) configured         to, in response to a tip payment process being executed for the         video, display an active video download button/link on the user         interface, and enable the video for which the tip has been paid         to be downloaded to a computer of the content consumer. -   (3) The system according to (1), wherein:     -   the tipping module further comprises:     -   a module (offline playback/background playback control module)         configured to, in response to a tip payment process being         executed for the video, display an active offline playback         button/link on the user interface, and enable the video for         which the tip has been paid to be played offline or played in         the background on a computer of the content consumer. -   (4) The system according to (1), wherein:     -   the tipping module further comprises:     -   a video rating generation module configured to, in response to         the tipping process being executed for the video, generate a         rating for the video, associate the rating with the video, and         store the rating so as to be displayable to all content         consumers on the user interface. -   (5) The system according to (4), wherein:     -   the video rating generation module calculates a tipping         frequency (payment count÷view count), and generates the video         rating on the basis of the tipping frequency. -   (6) The system according to claim 4, wherein:     -   the video rating is displayed on the user interface so as to be         displayable to all content consumers in the form of stars. -   (7) The system according to (1), wherein:     -   the user interface is provided by the video hosting site. -   (8) The system according to (1), wherein:     -   the user interface is provided by an application installed on a         computer of the content consumer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Recently, there are numerous services for video hosting websites; because of their convenience, these services have been attracting increasing numbers of users from year to year, and are recognized by society at large.

Video hosting website services can be broadly divided into two types.

One type is video hosting sites of the ad-supported model, in which users can watch videos for free in return for viewing ads (videos/images/audio/text); examples of these services include YouTube, Facebook video, and daily motion (all registered trademarks).

The other type is the subscription-based model, in which users pay a fee to watch videos; examples of these services include NetFlix, Amazon Video. and YouTube Red (all registered trademarks).

Video hosting websites of the first type, the ad-supported model, have the drawback that, while users can view videos for free, many users are annoyed by the ads on the video sites. Ads on video sites are primarily online targeted advertising, wherein a user's video watching history and the user's residence (geographical location; determined from the IP address of the site connection), age, sex, etc., are determined, and, based on this information, the site operator shows ads to the targeted users requested by the advertiser. This arrangement allows for highly cost-effective advertising. However, this also means that the disclosure and collection of private information is the price users pay to view videos for free. Moreover, no matter how advanced online targeted ad technology may become, users simply want to watch videos, and it is natural for users to be annoyed by their videos being interrupted by ads.

Moreover, in the ad-supported model, it is difficult for a user to confirm the quality of video content before viewing the video, and some content creators, taking advantage of the way the ad-supported model works, put extreme titles and thumbnails on videos of low content quality to attract users, and there are also numerous fake videos and ad videos that profiteer off the ad revenue from the video ads that play before a video is viewed. In addition there are videos that have excessive titles and thumbnails intended for advertising will engage users and allow them to view advertising contents.

As concerns video ratings, the ratings of good (Like) and bad (Dislike) on YouTube and Facebook Video, for example, are based merely on the subjective impressions of individual users, and are not theoretical.

In addition, video hosting websites of the ad-supported model present the problem of forbidding the downloading and saving of all videos, including videos for which copyright ownership has been made explicit, on user terminals. Such websites also prevent background playback, which would allow a user to listen to video music while in another browser or application. The reason for this is that downloading and saving videos to personal terminal allows users to view videos offline, which means circumventing highly cost-effective online targeted advertising and making it difficult to obtain ad revenue. In addition, for users to listen to video music in the background, without visiting the video site, means circumventing advertising. In fact, YouTube has rolled out another video service (YouTube Red) that is ad-free and enables downloading and saving of videos and background playback for a subscription (monthly), which shows that subscription services must take the place of ad revenue in order to provide ad-free service that offers video downloading and saving and background playback.

Meanwhile, video hosting websites of the subscription-based model do not disclose the contents of videos, and are configured so that viewers have no way of knowing the contents of video content, and must pay a fee unilaterally set by the video site before having any way of knowing the value of videos. On paid sites, users have no way of judging the value of video content, and must pay a unilaterally set fee in advance, which is not a fair transaction, and subjects users to risk.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

As explained above, current video hosting websites present problems such as ads, invasion of privacy, the need to pay fees in advance, and the presence of fake videos and ad videos. An object of the present invention is to solve these problems, and provide an arrangement that enables video hosting website operators and content creators to obtain revenue.

As a method to solve the problem according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a site that does not have the operation of all advertising systems, including user-privacy-infringing targeted ads, and is capable of manifesting completely ad-free video streaming, and a tipping system (payment system) that operates in tandem with video playback, and a system is provided whereby, according to user selections, a user can assess the value of a video while or after watching the video and use a tipping button on the site to decide upon an amount and pay a fee.

In accordance with the preferable embodiment of this system, a user is given an ID (identifier) 160 when registering with the site, and video ID (identifier) is given when uploading a video, and tipping settings, tip payment information (credit card numbers), the video which the tip was paid can be identified. And a user can easily make tip payment for the video by clicking a tipping button, and a contents provider also can receive the tip through the tip button. Moreover, in accordance with another embodiment of the invention, it is configured that the supported-model can be established by sharing the above tip revenue with video operators and contents providers. Also, the contents providers give the tip payment user the reward of the downloading and saving of all videos into the user terminal. Therefore, a user can view the video offline and do background playback.

Also, in accordance with further another embodiment of this invention, due to “the substantial reward from actual viewing rating” such that users actually view a video, evaluate the video, and pay the tip as its reward, the accurate video evaluation can be calculated. This rating method is to calculate a tipping frequency (payment count÷view count); therefore, it can clarify that the quality of the video contents has the high tip payment frequency. By displaying the video rating in tandem with a tipping frequency on the video screen in the form of a number (numerical value) or stars (number of stars); thereby, users can know the quality of the video contents. Thus, a user can save time and data usage which were previously used in viewing as well as avoid watching fake video and ads video with low quality of contents.

When the content creators provide high quality videos, tip revenue and evaluation are increased; on the other hand, when they provide low quality videos, tip revenue and evaluation are decreased, by the tip payment system. Thereby, it improves the quality of sites, leads to eradicate malicious contents providers in addition to remove fake video, ads contents. The details of this tip payment are accumulated in the user database, which can confirm the contents quality of each video and the quality and evaluation of each contents providers.

BEST MODE FOR EMBODYING THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the present invention will be described hereafter.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a system configuration according to the present embodiment.

1. SYSTEM/SERVER CONFIGURATION

A video hosting website 100 (the system of the present invention) comprises: a front end server for providing a user interface; and, as a back end for processing video playback and tipping processes, a video provision module 120, a video importing module 121, a video analysis module 122, a digital rights management (DRM) module 123, a tipping module 124, and various databases including a video database 130, a user database 131, a digital rights management database 132, a video analysis database 133, and a flagged-for-review video database 134.

Numerous functions known in the art, such as firewall, load balancer, application server, authentication server, fault bypass server, and site management tools, will not be shown in the present embodiment in order to avoid confusion regarding the characteristics of the present invention, but naturally may be provided, as appropriate.

The front end server and the modules are installed as a program executed by the computer making up the video hosting website 100; this program is expanded in memory by the CPU of the computer in which the program is installed, and executed, as appropriate, to form the various elements of the present invention. The computer on which the server program is installed is preferably a server-class computer comprising a network interface, a peripheral interface, and other elements known in the art. For example, the computer runs on an operating system, such as Linux®, comprising a generally high-performance CPU and a disk storage device for memory. Other types of computers may of course be used, and it is anticipated that more powerful computers developed in the future can be configured as described herein. It is also possible to provide a function installed through one of the elements using a computer program product stored on a computer-readable physical storage medium (e.g., ROM, RAM, hard disk, SSD, or magneto-optical medium).

The video hosting website 10 is connected via a network 150 to a content creator (individual, corporation, group) 140 and a viewer (individual, corporation, group) 141 constituting users. The content creator 140 and the viewer 141 run a browser 170 on a computer, portable terminal, etc., and connect to the front end server 110 over the network 150. Typically, the network 150 is the Internet, but may include any combination of LANs, MANs, WANs, mobile, wired or wireless networks, private networks, cellular networks (e.g., the Long-Term Evolution (LTE) network), CDNs (content delivery networks), and virtual private networks. The front end server system 110 can be connected to over the network 150, which can be any network, without limitation.

In FIG. 1, the content creator 140 and viewer 141 constituting the users of the video hosting website 100, as well as their respective user ID 160, browsers 170, and offline programs 180 are shown as single units; however, it goes without saying that an extremely large number (for example, millions) of users can be supported and allowed to communicate with the video hosting website 100 at any time. The users 140, 141 may include a variety of different computer devices. Examples of the user devices 140, 141 include PCs, laptops, smartphones, tablets, information terminals, portable information terminals, portable telephones, mobile telephones, etc. The technology of said field is naturally not limited to the abovementioned devices.

The browser 170 can include any application by which a user can access web pages on the World Wide Web. Suitable applications are Apple Safari@, Google Chrome®, Android®. Microsoft Edge®, Internet Explorer, and any applications adapted so as to be capable of accessing web pages on the World Wide Web, including smartphone and tablet application software. The browser 170 also includes suitable video players, such as HTML5 Player and Adobe Systems' Flash (both registered trademarks), as well as any other player that is usable on the video hosting website 100 and compatible with video film format. Alternatively, a standalone program independent of the browser 170 may access videos.

Records of all registered users, including the content creator 140 and viewer 141, are registered and saved in the user database 131 of the video hosting website. The video hosting website 100 maintains records of all registered users using this user database 131. Names, user names, channel names, passwords, email addresses, tip payment information (credit card numbers, online payment information, etc.), tipping settings, tip receipt information (bank account, etc.), tipping records, tip receipt records, private coin information, video viewing records, video upload records, video upload records, video upload settings, uploaded video ratings, rights records, and violation records are stored in the records for the registered users. Records are also included for users who simply watch videos without being registered on the video site 100.

2. SITE REGISTRATION AND USER ID

It is general practice in web service user registration, not limited to the video hosting website 100, to identify users by email address, telephone number, and registered social media accounts (Facebook, etc.), and later input the information necessary to use the site services, such as legal name, sex, address, payment information, user name, channel name, etc., to register with the site. After registering with the site, a user is given an ID (identifier) 160, and can utilize the services of the video hosting website 100.

As this method of site registration and ID 160 acquisition is standard for website registration at present, it will not be shown in order to avoid confusion regarding the characteristics of the system of the present invention. Other methods of website registration and ID acquisition invented in the future will be applicable to the system of the present invention as long as they are methods in which users are identified by user IDs.

3. UNREGISTERED SITE USERS

Users not registered with the video hosting website 100 can view videos, but must register with the video hosting website 100 and obtain a user ID 160 in order to utilize services such as paying tips, accepting tips, uploading videos, downloading videos, offline playback, background playback, and posting comments; thus, the operator of the video hosting website 100, through the user interface on the front end server 110, notifies unregistered users of the option of registering with the site, and encourages them to do so.

4. UPLOADING VIDEOS

A content creator 140, in order to upload digital content to the video hosting website 100, the content creator 140 connects over the network 150 to a user interface; and the video importing module 121 processes. By this process, the video importing module 121 also assigns an ID (identifier) to the uploaded video. This processing includes format conversion (encoding, transcoding) and compression. The processing also includes data processing involving tagging the user ID 160, video ID, tipping settings set in the user interface, as well as metadata such as video title, description, tags, categories, language, geo-blocking, age restrictions, and video length.

Examples of uploaded digital content items include video, audio, and combinations of video and audio. Alternatively, the digital content item may be a still image such as a JPEG or GIF file, or a text file. The item may of course also be live video (streaming data). For simplicity and to describe the present embodiment, the uploaded digital content item will be referred to as a “video”, a “video file”, “video data”, or a “video item”, but these terms are not intended to limit the types of digital content items that can be uploaded.

The video analysis module 122 then analyzes the tagged metadata. For this analysis, the module checks for any prohibited words, violence, sexual content, etc., violating terms that have been set by the video hosting website 100 and stored in the video analysis database 133, and also checks for copyrights. Video metadata for previous violations of terms is stored in the video analysis database 133, as is copyright information independently obtained by the operator of the video hosting website 100. Information on movie companies, music labels, television stations, artists, and other music copyright holder registered with the video hosting website 100 as users is also converted to metadata and stored, and copyright infringements are also checked for. After analysis, the digital rights management (DRM) module 123 performs an encryption process (download-blocking encryption process) on non-problematic videos to block downloading of the video data to user terminals, and a decryption key for unblocking is simultaneously issued. After the encryption process, the video data is stored in the video database 130, and the unblocking decryption key is stored in the digital rights management (DRM) database 132. The uploaded video is also associated with the content creator 140, and the record in the user database 131 is updated and saved.

Videos that are judged problematic are stored in the flagged-for-review video database 134, and the operator of the video hosting website 100 checks the video again, and, if there are no problems, the digital rights management (DRM) module 123 performs the encryption process for blocking downloads of the video data to user terminals as described above, and simultaneously issues a decryption key for unblocking. After the encryption process, the video is stored in the video database 130, and the unblocking decryption key is stored in the digital rights management (DRM) database 132. The uploaded video is also associated with the content creator 140, and the record in the user database 131 is updated.

Problematic videos are deleted after being checked by the operator of the video hosting website 100; in this system, metadata for problematic videos is stored in the video analysis database 133 as violation data, and the user violation history in the user database 131 is updated.

In this system, the encryption used by the digital rights management (DRM) module 123 to block downloading of videos to user terminals is carried out through a combination of a process that prevents displaying the video on the user browser 170 and a process that prevents the video player from running in the event that the user manages to download the video. If a user attempts to use downloading software to download the video, a warning text is displayed, and, simultaneously, the user violation history for the user ID 160 that attempted the download is updated in the user database 131, and a notification is sent to the operator of the video hosting website 100. The IP address, browser, model information, and terminal number of users not registered with the video hosting website 100 are recorded and saved in the user database 130, and such users are registered as risky users. There are many other methods that can be used for this video content protection through digital rights management (DRM); as demanded by circumstances, the operator of the video hosting website 100 may utilize an optimal method, and set the same in the digital rights management (DRM) module 123.

Video authorship is made up of extremely complex rights, and it may in practice be difficult to detect all copyright infringements using just the video analysis module 122 and the video analysis database 133. Therefore, the video hosting website 100 makes final patrol-based checks, responds to infringement notifications from external parties on a case-by-case basis, and, as necessary, deletes videos and freezes or deletes user IDs 160.

5. VIEWING VIDEOS

The viewer 141 can run the browser 170 and connect to the front end server 110 to view videos that have been uploaded by the content creator 140 to the video database 130.

The viewer 141 selects and views posted videos according to category, view count ranking, rating ranking, and the settings and video viewing history of the viewer 141 in the front end server 110, or the viewer 141 inputs search words into a video search system on the front end server 110, videos (titles, descriptions, artist names, tags, etc.) matching the metadata stored and distributed by the video database 130 and the search words inputted by the viewer 141 are displayed as search results, and the viewer 141 selects and views a video. When the viewer 141 selects a video, the video ID is sent to the video provision module 120, the video data is retrieved from the video database 130, and the video provision module 120 sends the video data to the viewer 141 for viewing. Note that this video selection method and search method have already been generalized in video hosting website services, and are not shown in order not to obscure the features of this system.

6. VIDEO PLAYBACK AND TIPPING MODULE

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the tipping module 124 shown in FIG. 1.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the tipping module 124 comprises a tipping button/link display module 200, a tip processing module 201, a video download button/link display module 202, an offline playback/background playback control module 203, a video rating generation module 204, and a tip revenue module 205.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of the tipping module 124.

When the video selected by the viewer 141 is played back (step 301 in FIG. 2), the tipping button/link display module 200 receives a video playback signal and operates (step 302), and an active tip button 400 is displayed (step 303), enabling the viewer 141 to leave a tip.

Next, when the viewer 141 clicks on the tip button 400, the tip processing module 201 operates in response to the tip request (step 304), the tip processing module 201 maps video ID, user ID 160, tipping settings, tip payment settings, and tip amount settings (step 305), and a tipping details confirmation screen is returned to the viewer 141 (step 306).

When the viewer 141 has confirmed the tip details and clicks the confirm tip button (not shown), the tip processing module 201 receives the confirmation signal (step 307) and starts a payment approval process for the tip from the viewer 141 (step 308). If the tipping settings of the viewer 141 are set to prepaid tip coins, the number of prepaid tip coins in the wallet of the viewer 141 is confirmed in the user database 131, the number of coins requested by the viewer 141 is withdrawn, and payment with prepaid tip coins is approved (step 309). If the viewer 141 has insufficient prepaid tip coins, and the number of tip coins requested by the viewer 141 cannot be paid, the user interface 700 for purchasing prepaid tip coins shown in FIG. 7 is displayed, and the viewer 141 is directed to purchase prepaid tip coins.

The number of prepaid tip coins in the wallet of the viewer 141 is displayed on the user interface 605. If the tipping settings of the viewer 141 are set to credit card, electronic payment, or the like, a payment approval request is sent to the payment company, and payment approval is obtained from the payment company (step 309). If the payment cannot be approved, a payment error message is displayed to the viewer 141. When the tip payment has been approved, a tipping complete message is displayed to the viewer 141 (step 310), a tip ID is simultaneously issued (step 311), and the information in the user database 131 and the video database 130 are updated and saved in association with the user ID 160 and the video ID (step 312).

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a tipping process accompanied by tipping settings of the viewer 141 that accompany the flow of the process performed by the tipping module 124 in FIG. 3.

When the video starts playing and the viewer 141 clicks the active tip button 400 (step 501), the process continues to step 502, and the viewer 141 confirms the need to login to the video hosting website 100. If the viewer 141 is logged in, the user ID 160 is identified, and the a user ID 160 is confirmed at the same time. The logged-in viewer 141 confirms the user ID 160 and proceeds to step 504. The non-logged-in viewer 141 proceeds to step 503 to perform login and confirms the user ID 160, and then proceeds to step 504. In addition, unregistered users of the video hosting website 100 are guided to the user registration page, perform user registration, obtain the user ID 160, and then log in. In step 504, the tip processing module 201 confirms the tip payment settings of the viewer 141. Viewers 141 who have set their tip payment settings are sent to step 506, and viewers 141 who have not yet set their tip payment settings are sent to step 505, set various means, such as prepaid tip coin payment 604 or credit card/electronic payment 606, for the tip payment settings in the user interface 600, and are then sent to step 506.

In step 506, the settings of the tip button 40 of the viewer 141 is confirmed. Once the amount per click setting 602 for the automatic tipping setting 601 has been set, the viewer 141 is sent to step 508. If the manual tipping setting 603 is set, the viewer 141 is sent to step 507, inputs the tip amount, and is then sent to step 508.

In step 508, a tipping details confirmation screen (not shown) for the viewer 141 is displayed. Once the viewer 141 has confirmed the tip details and clicked the tip confirmation button (step 509), a tipping complete screen is displayed, and payment of the tip is complete (step 510).

If the viewer 141 does not click the tip button 400 in step 501, the tip processing module 201 will not operate. If the content creator 140 has opted not to accept tips in the user interface 901, the tip button 400 will not be displayed, and the tipping module 124 will not operate. The tip acceptance settings for the content creator 140 for each video can be confirmed and changed using user interfaces 1600, 1601, even after the videos have been uploaded.

“Steps 504/505” and “steps 506/507” are processed in the order of “steps 504/505” followed by “steps 506/507” in FIG. 5, but may also be processed in the opposite order.

7. DOWNLOADING/SAVING VIDEOS

FIG. 8 is a flow chart of the operation of the video download button/link display module 202 when a tip is given. When the viewer 141 has finished paying a tip, the video download button/link display module 202 receives a signal from the tip processing module 201 and activates (step 801), and confirms the video download permission setting 902 set by the content creator 140 (step 802). If permission to download the video has been granted, the process proceeds to step 803, the video download button/link display module 202 requests the digital rights management (DRM) module 123 for the decryption key that will unblock downloading and saving the video, and the digital rights management (DRM) module 123 retrieves the decryption key for unblocking downloading and saving of the video from the digital rights management (DRM) database 132, and sends the decryption key to the video download button/link display module 202.

The video download button/link display module 202 maps the decryption key for unblocking downloading and saving, video ID, user ID 160, and tip ID (step 804), unblocks the viewer 141 from downloading and saving the video, generates a download button 1001 and a background playback button (video screen off, audio-only playback) 1003, and displays the buttons on the user interface (step 805).

When the viewer 141 clicks the download button 1001 (step 806), the video download button/link display module 202 receives said request (step 807), confirms the video data in the video database 130, and displays the downloadable file size (step 808).

When the viewer 141 selects the desired video file to download, the video download button/link display module 202 retrieves the designated video file from the video database 130 and sends the file to the viewer 141, and the viewer 141 downloads and saves the file to the terminal. When the viewer 141 finishes downloading/saving, a download completion screen is displayed (step 810). The viewer 141 can freely play the video because the video data is stored in his/her terminal, and uses the background play button (video screen off/play only sound) 1003 generated in the user interface. Then background playback of the video becomes also possible.

A “download ready” display 1002 is not displayed on the tip button 400 for videos for which the content creator 140 has not been able to indicate the video downloading/saving setting 902, and the video cannot be downloaded and saved even if the viewer 141 offers a tip. After video upload, the content creator 140 can confirm and change downloading/saving permission settings for each video in interface 1600, 1601.

The viewer 141, as desired, can also download dedicated application software provided by the video hosting website 100 to view videos. The application software is provided with a dedicated video player, and comprises various functions associated with playing back downloaded and saved videos, such as a dedicated background playback button (video screen off, audio-only playback), a video playlist creation function, etc.

8. OFFLINE PLAYBACK

FIG. 11 is a flow chart for the operation of the offline playback/background playback control module 203 when a tip is given.

When the viewer 141 has finished paying a tip, the offline playback/background playback control module 203 receives a tipping complete signal from the tip processing module 201 and activates (step 1101). Next, the offline playback/background playback control module 203 generates an offline program 180 (step 1102). The offline program 180 generated by the offline playback/background playback control module 203, as well as the download/saving unlocking decryption key, video ID, user ID 160, tip ID, and video data mapped when the tip was paid, are saved to memory (cache, ROM, RAM, etc.) in the user terminal (step 1103). When the user launches the browser 170 offline and attempts to connect to the video hosting website 100 (step 1104), the offline program 180 receives an offline signal from the terminal operation system (not shown) of the viewer 141, and activates (step 1105). Next, in step 1103, the offline program 180 accesses the location in the memory of the terminal of the viewer 141 at which the video data is saved, reads the video data, and displays an offline-playable video in the browser 170 (step 1106). When the viewer 141 selects a playable video, the offline program 180 receives the request (step 1107), retrieves the video data from the memory of the terminal of the viewer 141 in which the video data in saved, and plays the video (step 1108). A background playback button (video screen off, audio-only playback) 1003 is generated in the video player for videos for which tips have been paid, enabling the user to play the videos in the background while working in another browser or application software.

The offline program 180 does not activate in online environments. The offline playback/background playback control module 203 does not activate for videos for which the content creator 140 has turned off the video downloading/saving permission setting 902. After uploading videos, the content creator 140 can confirm and change the download/saving permission setting for each video in interfaces 1600, 1601.

9. VIDEO RATING BASED ON TIPPING FREQUENCY (%)

The video rating generation module 204 is provided with an algorithm for calculating video rating in tandem with tips. The video rating calculation algorithm is based on tipping frequency, calculated according to the following formula.

Tip payment count÷video view count=tipping frequency (%)

An ordinary counting method may be used to determine the tip payment count and the video view count; to calculate a more accurate rating, the unique tip payment count and unique video view count may be determined.

This is because a more accurate video rating can be calculated by counting multiple tips paid by the same user for the same video as only one tip, and counting multiple viewings of the same video by the same user as only one view. As discussed above, the video database 130 and user database 131 save all of a user's video viewing records and tipping records, enabling calculation of the unique tip count and unique view count. As circumstances demand, the operator of the video hosting website 100 calculates the tipping frequency (%) from the unique tip count and the unique video view count.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart of the operation of the video rating generation module 204 when a tip is given.

When the viewer 141 has finished paying a tip, the video rating generation module 204 receives a tipping complete signal from the tip processing module 201 and activates (step 1201). The video rating generation module 204 uses a predetermined rating algorithm to confirm rating eligibility conditions (such as minimum view count); thus, the module confirms the video view count with the video database 130, and checks the view count against the set rating eligibility conditions (step 1202). If the conditions are met, the process continues to step 1203; if the conditions are not met, the video rating generation module 204 terminates without rating the video.

In step 1203, the video rating generation module 204 confirms the video category set by the content creator 140 in the user interface 903, and applies the algorithm set for each video category to calculate and generate the video rating. The reason why an algorithm is set for each video category is that video categories (e.g., educational, cars, how-to, music, etc.) have different tipping frequencies, with some categories having high tipping frequencies and some categories having low tipping frequencies. Setting an algorithm for each video category makes it possible to calculate more accurate ratings. The process then proceeds to step 1204, wherein a number (numerical value) and stars reflecting the video rating generated in 1203 are displayed, as indicated by label 401 in the user interface 401. Simultaneously, the video rating is reflected in the video search results display order, as well as in the video ranking order. The video database 130 and user database 131 pertaining to video rating calculation are then updated and saved (step 1205).

10. EXAMPLE TIPPING FREQUENCY RATING ALGORITHM (BY RANK)

One example of a rating algorithm based on tipping frequency (%) used in the system according to the present invention is to assign high rankings to videos having high tipping frequencies and low rankings to videos having low tipping frequencies, as shown in Table 1 below, and calculate ratings according to rank.

In this case, the tipping frequency rating is expressed in numbers (numerical values) and stars (numbers of stars) on a ten-rank scale of 0.5-5.0 (ten-point method), with the highest rating being 5.0 and the lowest rating being 0.5. An algorithm is set for each video category, and rating eligibility conditions (minimum view count, etc.) are set.

TABLE 1 Example of rating algorithm based on tipping frequency rank Not eligible ⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆ 0.0 Fewer than 100 views, or no tips received for rating Rating Rating Rating according Rating (stars) (number) to rank Lowest Rating

 

 

 

 

0.5 Lower 5.00% or less ★⋆⋆⋆⋆ 1.0 Lower 10.00% to 5.01%

 

 

 

 

1.5 Lower 20.00% to 10.01% ★★⋆⋆⋆ 2.0 Lower 35.00% to 20.01%

 

 

 

 

2.5 Lower 50.00% to 35.01% ★★★⋆⋆ 3.0 Upper 49.99% to 35.01% ★★★ 

 ⋆ 3.5 Upper 35.00% to 20.01% ★★★★⋆ 4.0 Upper 20.00% to 10.01% ★★★★ 

4.5 Upper 10.00% to 5.015 Highest rating

 

 

 

 

5.0 Upper 5.00% or higher

11. EXAMPLE TIPPING FREQUENCY RATING ALGORITHM (BY AVERAGES)

Another example of an algorithm, as shown in Table 2, is based on average tipping frequency (%), with a ten-stage scale (ten-point method) in which the range from highest tipping frequency (%) to average tipping frequency (%) is divided into five stages, and the range from average tipping frequency (%) to lowest tipping frequency (%) is divided into five stages, and a numerical range is calculated for each rating.

In this method, if, for example, the average tipping frequency is 7.50%, the highest value is 30.00%, and the lowest value is 0.10%, the range from (A) the highest value of 30.00% (stars: 5.0) to the average value of 7.50% is divided into five stages, and the range from (B) the lowest value of 0.10% (stars: 0.5) to the average value of 7.50% is divided into five stages. As a result, a numerical range for each rating is calculated as follows.

30.00% (max. value)−7.50% (average value)=22.50%+5 (stages)=4.50% (numerical range)  (A)

7.50% (average value)−0.10% (min. value)=7.40%÷5 (stages)=1.48% (numerical range)  (B)

It is also possible to set an algorithm for each video category, and to set rating eligibility conditions (minimum view count, etc.).

TABLE 2 Example of algorithm based on average tipping frequency Not eligible ⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆ 0.0 Fewer than 100 views, or no tips received for rating Rating Rating Tipping Numerical Value (stars) (number) frequency (%) range (%) Minimum Value

 

 

 

 

0.5 0.10% or less to 1.58% 1.48% ★⋆⋆⋆⋆ 1.0 1.59% to 3.06% 1.48%

 

 

 

 

1.5 3.07% to 4.54% 1.48% ★★⋆⋆⋆ 2.0 4.55% to 6.02% 1.48%

 

 

 

 

2.5 6.03% to 7.50% 1.48% ★★★⋆⋆ 3.0 7.51% to 12.00% 4.50% ★★★ 

 ⋆ 3.5 12.01% to 16.50% 4.50% ★★★★⋆ 4.0 16.51% to 21.00% 4.50% ★★★★ 

4.5 21.01% to 25.50% 4.50% Highest rating

 

 

 

 

5.0 25.51% to 30.00% or greater 4.50%

12. RATING ALGORITHM BASED ON TOTAL RECEIVED TIPS

In the system according to the present invention, it is also possible to set an algorithm based on total received tips for the video in the video rating generation module 204. This is because videos that have high total received tips can be defined as highly rated. However, this method has the drawback that videos that have been posted for longer periods will inevitably have higher total received tips, and statement periods (1 hour, 3 hours, 24 hours, weekly, monthly, annual, etc.) are set, and total received tips for each video are calculated. In addition, because tip amounts for the same video will differ from user to user due to the personal circumstances (income, etc.) of users, this approach will inevitably be less reliable than the tipping-frequency-based algorithm described above. For this reason, while this total-received-tips-based algorithm can be used alone, it is better to construct an algorithm in combination with the tipping-frequency-based algorithm.

The calculation method (rating according to rank) described in Table 1 can be applied to this total-received-tips-based algorithm, with videos being ranked according to total received tips, and ratings being calculated according to a ten-stage scale (ten-point method) and expressed in numbers (numerical values) and stars (numbers of stars). The calculation method described in Table 2 (rating based on average values) can similarly be applied, with the algorithm being based on average total received tips, the range from the highest total received tips to the average total received tips being divided into five stages, the range from the average total received tips to the lowest total received tips being divided into five stages, a numerical range being calculated for each rating, and ratings being expressed on a ten-stage scale (ten-point method). An algorithm is set for each video category, and rating eligibility conditions (minimum view count, etc.) are set.

13. AVERAGE OF MULTIPLE RATINGS ALGORITHM

In the system according to the present invention, it is also possible to calculate a rating from the average of the rating calculated from tipping frequency as described in sections 10 and 11 above and the rating calculated from total received tips as described in section 12 above. For example, a tipping frequency rating of 4.5 and a total received tips rating of 4.0 yields the following value.

(4.5+4.0)÷2 (number of algorithms)=4.25 (average rating)

This rating is not expressed on a ten-stage scale, but as a numerical value (to two decimal places), and stars in combination with the numerical value. While the average rating is calculated from two algorithms in this example, more than two algorithms may also be used.

The video rating calculation algorithms described above and in the previous sections are merely examples; various video rating algorithms based on the tipping frequency or tip revenues obtained from user tips can be set in the video rating generation module 204. While the video ratings are expressed on a ten-stage scale (ten-point method) in the examples above, they can also be expressed, for example, via a 100-point method (maximum 100 to minimum 1).

Apart from numbers (numerical values) and stars, ratings can be displayed in the user interface using other rating display methods capable of expressing numerical rating values, such as bar graphs.

As AI (artificial intelligence) technology advances in the future, it will also be possible to provide more accurate video ratings to users by setting an algorithm combining tipping frequency, tips revenues, and AI in the video rating generation module 204.

14. RATING CONTENT CREATORS BASED ON TIPS

All video ratings pertaining to tips are associated with video ID and user ID 160, and saves them in the video database 130 and the user database 131. The video rating generation module 204 calculates the average rating for all videos uploaded by a content creator 140, and displays this average rating on a user interface 1301 constituting a personal page for the content creator 140.

The average video ratings for content creators 140 are also reflected in the display order of search results yielded by a content creator search system for searching content creators 140. As a result, a user can confirm the rating of a content creator 140 in a timely manner.

15. TIP-ASSOCIATED VIDEO RANKING DISPLAY

On the video hosting website 100, video rankings are posted on the user interface on the basis of the ratings based on tipping frequency and total received tips described above. Content creator 140 rankings are similarly posted.

Ranking periods (1 hour, 3 hours, 24 hours, weekly, monthly, annual, etc.) are established, and highly ranked videos and content creators 140 are listed at the top of the ranking screen, thereby providing users with a timely display of popular videos and popular content creators.

16. ACCEPTING TIPS

After a user has given a tip, the tip revenue module 205 calculates and generates tip revenue shares as decided upon by the content creator 140 and the operator of the video hosting website 100, and the user database 131 for the content creator 140, and the associated video database 130, are updated and saved.

For example, revenue shares of 60% for the content creator 140 and 40% for the operator of the video hosting website 100 are agreed upon, and, when a viewer 141 gives a tip of $1.00, the content creator 140 receives $0.60 and the operator of the video hosting website 100 receives $0.40. Once a tip payment is confirmed, the operator of the video hosting site 100 distributes the tip revenue according to conditions (revenue shares, payment conditions, bank account for depositing tips, etc.) agreed upon with the content creator 140.

The user interfaces 1400, 1401 receives and displays information on tip revenue details (numbers of transactions, times/dates, currencies, amounts, revenue shares, revenue amounts, tip payment dates, tip givers) for all videos uploaded by a user, and the user interfaces 1500, 1501 receives and displays the details (numbers of transactions, times/dates, currencies, amounts, payment IDs) for tips given by users for various videos, from the video database 130 and the user database 131.

If the user has not opted the tip acceptance setting 901 for the uploaded video, the system according to the present invention does not display the tip button 400 on the video screen, making it impossible to receive tips for the video. After video upload, the user can confirm and change tip acceptance settings for each video in interface 1600, 1601.

17. BUYING AND SELLING PREPAID TIP COINS

The operator of the video hosting website 100 of the present invention sells prepaid tip coins through the user interface 700, and are available for purchase by users.

In this example, the operator of the video hosting website 100 establishes and displays an exchange rate for currency and tip coins (701). Thus, if, for example, it has been established that USD 1.00=1.00 TipCoin, a user can use 1.00 TipCoins to give a tip of USD 1.00. The tip revenue module 205 is configured so that rewards can be included with prepaid tip coins, and is configured so as to be capable of displaying explanations of rewards 702, and awarding reward points as follows, for example.

-   -   Prepaid USD 10.00=10.10 TipCoins (Reward *0.10 TipCoins)     -   Prepaid USD 25.00=25.30 TipCoins (Reward *0.30 TipCoins)     -   Prepaid USD 50.00=51.00 TipCoins (Reward *1.00 TipCoins)     -   Prepaid USD 100.00=103.00 TipCoins (Reward *3.00 TipCoins)

The monetary amount of rewards may be borne by the operator of the video hosting website 100, in which case the user purchasing the prepaid tip coins profits by indirectly receiving monetary rewards. The operator can also alter and set reward points at any time in the tip revenue module 205.

The operator of the video hosting website 100 enables users to confirm prepaid tip coin conditions 701 and reward conditions 702 when purchasing tip coins. After confirming these conditions, the user selects the purchase amount 703, selects the payment method 704, inputs the information required to carry out the payment, and clicks an order button 705 to purchase prepaid tip coins.

When using a credit card or electronic payment to give a tip, the user must transmit payment information, which is confidential user information, over the Internet every time such a payment is made. However, purchasing prepaid tip coins and using the coins to give tips reduces the number of times confidential user information is transmitted over the Internet, thereby reducing the risk of confidential information being hacked. Naturally, this exchange of confidential information is encrypted, and thus would be of no use to a hacker even if it were hacked. However, as the transmission of confidential information over the Internet is not completely without risk, having users purchase prepaid tip coins reduces the number of times confidential user information is transmitted over the Internet, resulting in increased security.

While the term “prepaid tip coin” is used herein, other names that make it clear that users can give tips, such as “prepaid tip points”, may also be used.

While the service is explicitly described in places in the foregoing description only as being for a content creator 140 and a video viewer 141 for the sake of clarity, the service can be provided to all users that have a user ID 160. 

1. A video streaming playback system comprising: a video playback module, configured to provide a video that was previously uploaded to a specific video hosting site by a user who is a content creator on a user interface displayed on a computer of a content consumer so as to enable streaming playback of the video over an electronic network, the video playback module having a video playback operation to allow the video to be played on the user interface; a tipping module configured to operate in tandem with the video playback operation performed by the video playback module, the tipping module configured to perform a tipping process; a reward download button/link display module configured to operate in tandem with the tipping process performed by the tipping module; a setup interface configured for the user who is a content creator to select to offer a reward or not offer a reward for the video which the user who is a content creator has uploaded upon payment of a tip; wherein the tipping module comprises: a tipping button/link display module configured to display an activated tipping button/link on the user interface; and a tip processing module configured to, in response to the content consumer operating the activated tipping button/link, process payment of a tip of a specific amount according to a default setting or a setting made by the user who is a content creator; wherein the reward download button/link display module is configured to, in response to a tip payment process being executed for the video, display an activated reward download button/link on the user interface when the user who is a content creator has selected using the setup interface to offer a reward upon payment of a tip, or has not selected using the setup interface to not offer a reward upon payment of a tip, and not display an activated reward download button/link on the user interface when the user who is a content creator has not selected using the setup interface to offer a reward upon payment of a tip, or has selected using the setup interface to not offer a reward upon payment of a tip.
 2. The video streaming playback system according to claim 1, wherein the system allows downloading of a video file to the computer of the content consumer by operating the activated reward download button/link displayed on the user interface.
 3. The video streaming playback system according to claim 1, wherein the system further comprises: an ad module configured to operate in tandem with the video playback operation performed by the video playback module; and a video provision options control module for allowing the user who is a content creator to select options pertaining to the operation of the tipping module, the reward download button/link display module, and the ad module; wherein the video provision options control module provides a setup interface configured to display, to the user who is a content creator, options of: (1) whether to accept tips by operating the tipping module, (2) whether to permit to offer a reward by operating the reward download button/link display module, and (3) whether to display ads by operating the ad module; and wherein the video provision options control module enables a selection at option (2) and prohibits a selection at option (3) and the operation of the ad module when a selection of accepting tips has been made at option (1); and prohibits the operation of the tipping module and the reward download button/link display module, and enables a selection at option (3) when a selection of not accepting tips has been made at option (1); and wherein the ad module displays, in tandem with the video playback operation performed by the video playback module, a specific ad on the user interface before and/or during the video playback when the option (3) is selected.
 4. The video streaming playback system according to claim 3, wherein: the tipping module further comprises a video rating generation module configured to, in response to the tipping process being executed for the video, generate a rating for the video, associate the rating with the video, and store the rating so as to be displayable to all content consumers on the user interface; and the video provision options control module displays a video rating generated by the video rating generation module on the user interface when a selection to accept tips has been made in the setup interface.
 5. The video streaming playback system according to claim 4, wherein: the video rating generation module calculates a tipping frequency (payment count÷view count), and generates the video rating on the basis of the tipping frequency.
 6. The video streaming playback system according to claim 4, wherein: the video rating is displayed on the user interface so as to be displayable to all content consumers in the form of a number (numerical value) or stars (number of stars).
 7. A video streaming playback method that uses a video streaming playback system including (i) a video playback module for providing a video that was previously uploaded to a specific video hosting site by a user who is a content creator on a user interface displayed on a computer of a content consumer so as to enable streaming playback of the video over an electronic network, the video playback module having a video playback operation to allow the video to be played on the user interface; (ii) a tipping module that operates in tandem with the video playback operation performed by the video playback module, the tipping module configured to perform a tipping process; and (iii) a reward download button/link display module configured to operate in tandem with the tipping process performed by the tipping module; the video streaming playback method comprising: a step, executed by the video streaming playback system, of providing a setup interface configured for the user who is a content creator to select to offer a reward or not offer a reward for the video which the user who is a content creator has uploaded upon payment of a tip; steps, executed by the tipping module, of displaying an activated tipping button/link on the user interface; and in response to the content consumer operating the activated tipping button/link, processing payment of a tip of a specific amount according to a default setting or a setting made by the user who is a content creator; and a step, executed by the reward download button/link display module, of: in response to a tip payment process being executed for the video, displaying an activated reward download button/link on the user interface when the user who is a content creator has selected using the setup interface to offer a reward upon payment of a tip, or has not selected using the setup interface to not offer a reward upon payment of a tip; wherein an activated reward download button/link is not displayed on the user interface when the user who is a content creator has not selected using the setup interface to offer a reward upon payment of a tip, or has selected using the setup interface to not offer a reward upon payment of a tip.
 8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the video streaming playback system further comprises (iv) an ad module configured to operate in tandem with the video playback operation performed by the video playback module; and (v) a video provision options control module configured to enable the user who is a content creator to select options pertaining to the operation of the tipping module, the reward download button/link display module, and the ad module; the video streaming playback method further comprising: steps, executed by the video provision options control module, of providing a setup interface to display options of: (1) whether to accept tips by operating the tipping module, (2) whether to permit to offer a reward by operating the reward download button/link display module, and (3) whether to display ads by operating the ad module; and enabling a selection at option (2) and prohibiting a selection at option (3) and the operation of the ad module when a selection of accepting tips has been made at option (1); and prohibiting the operation of the tipping module and the reward download button/link display module and enabling a selection at option (3) when a selection of not accepting tips has been made at option (1); and a step, executed by the ad module, of displaying, in tandem with the video playback operation performed by the video playback module, a specific ad on the user interface before and/or during the video playback when the option (3) is selected.
 9. The method according to claim 8, wherein: the tipping module comprises a video rating generation module in which, in response to the tipping process being executed for the video, a rating is generated for the video, associated with the video, and stored so as to be displayable to all content consumers on the user interface; and the video provision options control module comprises a step of displaying a video rating generated by the video rating generation module on the user interface when a selection to accept tips has been made as a selection on the setup interface.
 10. The method according to claim 9, wherein: the video rating generation module comprises a step of calculating a tipping frequency (payment count÷view count), and generating the video rating on the basis of the tipping frequency.
 11. The method according to claim 9, wherein: the video rating is displayed on the user interface so as to be displayable to all content consumers in the form of a number (numerical value) or stars (number of stars). 